President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Washington DC said that the continued pressure on the immediate past administration by the United States and some European countries made the general elections in Nigeria to be free and fair.

Buhari said this while responding to the welcome remarks by President Barack Obama, before the start of the bilateral meeting between officials of both countries at the Oval Office of the White House, Washington DC, on the second day of the visit.

He noted that without the external pressure, “we would not be where we are today in Nigeria”.

He recalled that the pressure started from the visit of the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, to the then Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

“Nigeria will be ever grateful to President Obama and the United States for making Nigeria consolidate its gains on democracy,” Buhari said.

On his trip to the United States, the President said he looked forward to a fruitful visit and engagement with his host government.

He expressed delight that the United States government had indicated interest in partnering and helping the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration to bring to fruition its goals of tackling insecurity, corruption and youth unemployment.

In his welcome remarks, Obama said that Buhari came into office with a reputation of integrity and a clear agenda and preparedness to bring peace to Nigeria, curtail the Boko Haram insurgency and root out corruption.

“On both issues of tackling insurgency and corruption in Nigeria, we look forward to how the United States can partner Nigeria to become an outstanding role model for developing countries,” Obama said.

While describing Nigeria as a one of the most important countries in Africa, he also commended the peaceful elections and transition that brought Buhari to power.

Obama lauded Nigeria’s track record in tackling the outbreak of Ebola virus and polio, adding that the United States looked forward to engaging Nigeria in improving its electricity challenges.

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Fairgame

I blame the United States for not exerting pressure on the other times Buhari ran for the presidency that were marred by violence from his supporters and large scale killing by his supporters. At least he has confirmed what many Nigerians know that if not for the pressure by the US Buhari would have been Buhari as in earlier times.

ESB

They will continue to demonise GEJ. This is the people with integrity, Nigeria is on a slide downwards, propaganda govt is what we have now. GEJ even as a governor in Bayelsa built his fame on transparent, violence free elections, so how come it was the US that pressured him to give free hand to Jega and to make the famed quote that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigeria long before this election.

Dede Kabi

Nigerians are miracle seekers that all about US mission, I have said this severally but Nigerians want miracle, they want God to bring a Messiah to solve a simple problem they can easily solve for themselves, but unfortunately there is no miracle you only reap what you sow.

Nigerians behave like animals even the most educated. In fact Nigeria is a shame to black race, it’s behaviour justifies racism because it’s a single Nation with the most black people in the world. If one say that black people are less intelligent, the person is perfectly right because Nigeria attest to that.

How did we left such a structure that is not favouring any body neither the Hausas, Yoruba nor the Igbos for decades and expect one man to do it when we know that it’s not possible. No wonder Bob marly sang that most stupid people (Africans) ” most people wait when God will come from the sky take away every problem and make everybody fill high” He sang stand up for your right.Jonathan has single handedly done what nobody could do for Nigerians by calling for a constitutional conference but the clueless Nation call him clueless. This stupid Nigerians are not advocating for the implementation rather they are happy and comfortable with injustice, ironically go to church and mosques to fast and pray with high hopes from nothing and expect miracle from Buhari.